Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-25

story over.'
NO." was the answer, given with half sat
smile
"Then you love some one already!7
ayes"
II guessed it. Who is her
Il do not know
"Where is he, them
The others eyes turned once more 10 th.
window to gaze out into the night
Il do not know that either"
"How curiousl But do you expect ever Il
see him again!7
"Yes," and she pressed her hands together
ayes, am waiting"
Her sister regarded her with baf]ed anc
puzzled look .You are a strange girl" she
said. "But hear mamma ON the stairs. ARE
you ready? Come"
These two young women with their tall
gracious mother were central point of attrac
ton that evening at fashionable gathering
where such attractions were plentiful-the
elder sister fair from within, the beauty OF
her features and even Of her form seeming
only the expression Of what was beneath; the
younger fair from without, with charm OF
line and color, of grace of manner and sweet
ness of speech. The one interested all men,
and women, too; the other the men alone.
They were both borne off to dance. After
ward, when an opportunity occurred, the
younger sister::Spoke to the elder in an under
| tone:
There's young man here l want you to
see. Very odd and uncommon. There is a
romantic story attached to him, that from his
childhood he has been quite mad, and has but
lately recovered his reason. Hes sane now,
and-thats he, talking to the dark girl in
| yellow They are walking this way. Come
| out of that dream world in which you live
and look at him."
The girl lifted her eyes with grave smile
and looked at the couple to whom her atten-
ton had been called. The lady was stranger;
| her companion
| A. by an Involuntary impulse he turned
| his head and his eyes met those fixed upon
| him. A quick flash of recognition passed
| from his to hers, and from hers to his, stimuli
| taneously. Both bowed, and he passed with
his partner on his arm, while the younger sis
ter gazed in bewilderment at the elder, whose
face was tinged with rich unusual color,
which quickly faded, leaving it deadly pale
lyon know himp she asked curiously.
The elder made no reply, but met the in
quiring glance with that sphinxEke look Of
hers, which it was impossible to read.
A formal introduction followed soon after,
and the ordinary commonplace of similar &C.
casions were interchanged. Then the
stranger asked the ex-nurse for a dance.
"How odd" he said, as he led her away.
"We have certainly never met before, yet
when saw you first tonight l felt for the
moment that knew you perfectly, and you
me. What can be the reason?"
perhaps l am like some friend of yours"
He shook his head.
mo, no. There is more in it than that. If
could only remember!"
And he drew his brows together in futile
effort.
In dancing, flirting, talking, love making,
inane prattling, the evening wore away and
the guests departed The infant hours of the
day found the two sisters exchanging COM
ments on the past amusement.
"And has it come at last!" said the younger;
"and like thisl Take care! Pray, don't give
your love to one you could never marry"
"Foolish grill In your eyes men are never
friends and acquaintance, but always lovers"
"Ah, but it was so plain. He had no
thought for any one but you, and you've
not seen you SO like your old self for year or
more, and was SO frightened"
"Frightenedf"
ayes, because you know be has been mad
he may be mad again. Take care"
The elder girl smiled gently and was
silent. From that evening a change came
over her. She might be said to have simply
existed until lately, now she threw herself
into life heart and soul, with the keen relish of
one to whom the world affords continuous
and varying interest.
Two more meetings in the whirl of social
gatherings, and then when by chance he and
she were alone words were spoken that
brought about a clear understanding.
Il must tell you," said the young man, hold
ing her hand and gazing at her with eyes full
of a great despair. at will be a faint
pleasure in my joyless future to remember
that you knew. If had only never seen you
never come out of the death and gloom Of
madness to reasons life and light But with
reason has come love, and to me love is
sternly forbidden. l love you. Forgive me
Tor telling YOU. l could not bear it and not
speak,"
His voice was hurried and broken. He was
trembling
The girl stood motionless, and did not take
her hands from his grasp. They lay in his
softly, willingly. tenderly.
Was there then no memory in her heart to
come between thems 1t seemed not, for she
let him draw her nearer, nearer, until her
head rested against his breast. A few sec
onds and he released her with groan.
"Cruel! cruel" he muttered, ito let US meet
and love with such an awful barrier between
US and happiness"
Il see no barrier" she said steadily.
He stood wavering. Then crushing out all
he caught her to him and kissed
her lips.
They were married. In spite of the disap-
proval of shocked society, in spite of fierce
opposition of friends, in spite of tears, pray
ers, arguments, closing their eyes to the
future they took the bliss of the pres
ent, and were unreasonably happy
for three months-happy those only |
can be who wall out the rest of the |
world and the time to come, and live il the |
and each other.
Then suddenly, unaccountably. the Young |
husband fell i'll. The doctors were baffied |
and could give 10 aid in answer TO the agon- |
lied appeal in the eyes of the patient nurse
No art of theirs could save him.
For some time he knew nothing Then |
one cold dawn he looked at his wife again
with intelligence. She leaned towards him
with the words that had been in her heart
running off her lips:
Don't leave me, my love, my own lovei
You cannot-you will not"
Il must, he answered. ''Yet-yet-it has
'ome back at last, the memory that always
,luded me; the wharf.-the woundei-and nv
weet nurse. You kept faith. And now
must we part againi No, no. Come with
ne, my wifel If l must go let Us so to
,etherl"
''How can I~ she sighed. laying her head
where her hair touched his face, and twining
Ter fingers in his. Il am young, and life is